Synopsis While the MORU.K. was crossing the Atlantic, the container ship sailed into adverse weather conditions. The rolling, pitching, heaving and pounding moments to which the vessel was subjected stressed the metal support structure of a tank container to the limit of its tensile strength. As a result of the support structure bending against the tank, dangerous and corrosive goods leaked out and spilled into No.1 hold. These goods were discharged into the sea with the permission of the Canadian Coast Guard. No one appears to have been incapacitated as a result of this spill. Factual Information Particulars of the Vessel Name - MORU.K. Port of Registry - Limassol, Cyprus Flag - Cypriot Official Number - 7614367 Type - Container ship Gross Tonnage - 17,304 Length - 169.75m Draught - Forward: 6.5m Aft: 8.4m Built - 1979, VEB Warnowwerft Warnemuende, Germany Propulsion - One Sulzer engine developing 12,799kW, driving a single fixed-pitch propeller Owners - Uniship Shipping Trading S.A. Piraeus, Greece On 16February 1995, the container ship MORU.K., laden with containers, was under way in the North Atlantic bound for Montreal, Quebec. During the crossing, the vessel encountered a storm with 55-knot westerly winds blowing for two days. The vessel sailed westward head on to the wind at an estimated speed of 10 knots. The bow pounded violently against the waves and vibrations were felt throughout the ship. During a routine inspection in No.1 hold, a leak was discovered from tank container No.RMCU454274(0) holding 25,576kg of BORINO. This product has the property of reacting chemically with metals to release hydrogen. The girders forming the metal support structure framing the tank were bent and the tap was damaged. The crew tried to staunch the leak, but was only partly successful. Foam was noticed in the bilges. On 18February 1995, the master requested permission from the Canadian authorities to discharge into the sea an estimated one and a half tonnes of the product which had spilled into the hold. Permission was granted, and pumping was done at a low flow rate from position 4651.6'N, 04407'W. The quantity of BORINO remaining in the container was checked on arrival at destination, and it was concluded that approximately eight tonnes of product had been discharged into the sea. Action Taken Following this occurrence, Marine Safety Information Letter No.4/95 and TSB Engineering Laboratory Report LP32/95 on the structural analysis of the tank container were forwarded to Transport Canada. In addition, TC-Marine was apprised, via Marine Safety Advisory No.08/96, of the mode of failure of the container and of the adequacy of present inspection procedures to account for such failures.